MEETINGS: Fourth Thursday each month, 7:00 p.m. * Unless otherwise noted WHERE: San Joaquin County Building 2707 Transworld Drive Stockton, California *NEXT MEETING: Thursday, March 22

nd, 2018

PRE MEETING DINNER: Denny’s Restaurant Arch Road location 5:30 p.m.

STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY

C/O BRIAN POOT

5617 ANADA COURT

SALIDA, CA 95368

STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2018

Guess what I am

2018 BOARD:

President: Lesley Slayter (209) 679-3078 lesley_shores@yahoo.com

Vice President: Greg Severi (209) 612-8289 gregseveri@gmail.com

Treasurer: Roelyn Poot (209) 599-7241 billroelynpoot@gmail.com

Secretary: Angela Severi (209) 612-8289 gregseveri@gmail.com

Board Members: Jerry Slayter, Bill Poot & Brian Poot

Newsletter: Brian Poot (209) 679-8899 jeffgordonfan24@sbcglobal.net

BOARD MEETINGS: Please note, board meetings will now be held the second Wednesday of each month, at 7:00 p.m., except in December, or if that date conflicts with something else. Anyone is welcome to attend, but please call first to let them know you will be coming to make sure of the date. Thanks!

We can always use new ideas & opinions for the club, as well as help

with behind the scenes stuff. If you are interested, please come to a

board meeting. Thx!

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION: Individual $20/yr Family $25/yr Contributing $35/yr Patron $50/yr

Membership runs January-December. Complimentary Jan. & Feb. issue if unpaid.

All dues should be sent

to the treasurer before

the February general

meeting.

CALENDAR:

March 14th - Board Meeting at the Poot’s 7:00 p.m. 22nd - General Meeting 7:00pm: Brian Poot - A Strange Intricate World - Slide Show

April 11th - Board Meeting at the Poot’s 7:00 p.m. 26th - General Meeting 7:00pm: To Be Determined

May 9th - Board Meeting at the Poot’s 7:00 p.m. 24th - Annual Potluck & Auction at Poot’s Cactus Nursery

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: (not club related)

Monterey Bay Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale: March 24-25 at the San Juan Bautista Community

Center, 10 San Jose St, San Juan Bautista CA

SUNSHINE REPORT:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to: Pat McWilliams, Maybelle Abplanalp, Terra Lim,

Renee Calhoun & Joanna Cuerpo.

THIS MONTHS PROGRAM: Brian Poot - A Strange Intricate World

Have you ever spent time studying just a small section of your plants or plants brought into our monthly mini shows? This months program will help us do exactly that. Brian Poot will be showing a power point program based off a new book his sister compiled as a gift for her & Brian's father (Bill Poot) for his birthday last October. The front of the book consists of close up photo's of unusual cacti and succulents. The back of the book has an answer key with complete photo's of each mysterious plant. Brian will show us a close up photo and give us time to guess which plant it possibly is and then show us a photo of the complete plant. The program promises to be very fascinating, fun and at times perplexing! Come and enjoy the creativity and humor God has shared with us in his awesome creation of cacti and succulents.

*The Poot's will bring the raffle plants, so be sure to bring your cash & boxes.

*Reminder to the Severi's (drinks) & Kathy Zumbrunn (snacks), this is your month to bring refreshments.

*Reminder that we need someone to volunteer to be the greeter this month.

POSSIBLE UPCOMING OUTINGS: by Lesley Slayter, President

UC DAVIS BOTANICAL GARDENS & GREENHOUSES TOUR (A Sat in Mid April?)

With a picnic lunch in the Redwood Garden between Greenhouses & Gardens

RUTH BANCROFT GARDENS TOUR (A Sun in May? ~1/2p-close)

& GARDEN TOUR @ STEPHEN LYSAGHT'S HOME AFTER ~4pm-->

*Please let me know if you are interested, and if there are dates that are unavailable to you. The more the merrier! I will try to accommodate as many as possible. These outings are a fun way to get to know other members of the club better, see how other people keep their plants, learn a few things, see things we may not be able to grow or keep & possibly purchase some! We have other outings in the works, such as UC Berkeley. We will also be going to Ruth Bancroft Gardens for the fall Fruit Tasting Tour. Something not to be missed! If you know of any others that should be added, or if you have a great garden you'd love to show off, please let me know. Thx! Hope to see you there...

RUTH BANCROFT 1908-2017:

As some of you know, a few of us went last month to The Ruth Bancroft Botanical Garden in Walnut Creek for Ruth's Celebration of Life. Ruth, who was 109 & still loved working with her plants, was the founder of this one of a kind garden featuring an amazing collection of cacti, succulents & drought tolerant plants. The 2.5 acre botanical garden is a local oasis & an example of how beautiful water-wise gardening can be with over 2000 cacti, succulents, trees, & shrubs native to California, Mexico, Chile, South Africa & Australia. The garden became the first in the United States to be preserved by the Garden Conservancy and has been open to the public since 1992.

MONTHLY MINI SHOW: OPEN TO ANY CLUB MEMBERS THAT WANT TO SHOW PLANTS! The mini show, held at the general meetings, is a time when you can bring your plants, to compete against other members’ plants. There are 10 categories: Cacti & Succulent, (Open, Advanced & Novice Divisions), Bloomers (anything in bloom, also three divisions) & Allied Interest (dish gardens or natural planters). You may bring up to 2 from each category. The forms for judging are available to take home so that you can fill them out prior to the meeting if you wish, or there will be some at the meeting as well. The plants are judged by the members attending that meeting; whoever receives the most votes wins that months mini show & will get their name in the next newsletter. The person(s) receiving the most votes at the end of the year will receive a gift from the club.

WE ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS TO BRING PLANTS TO SHOW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR!

FYI: The mini show categories are Novice - those with fewer than 5 years of showing in the mini-show. Advanced – those who have shown for more than 5 years in the mini-show & does not sell more than $300 in plants a year. Open – those who sell more than $300 in plants a year. Also you must own the plant for at least

6 months before you can show the plant in the mini show.

Brian Poot, Mini show coordinator

FEBRUARY MINI SHOW RESULTS:

Novice Division, Cacti: 1st - Joan Stewart w/ Rebutia sp.

Novice Division, Succulent: 1st - Greg Severi w/ Pachypodium geayi

2nd

- Joan Stewart w/ Euphorbia polygona

Novice Division, Blooming: 1st - Joan Stewart w/ Neoporteria nidus v. senilis

2nd

- Angela Severi w/ Haworthia cymbiformis

Advanced Division, Cacti: 1st - Lesley Slayter w/ Tephrocactus geometricus

2nd

- Kathy Zumbrunn w/ Trichocereus huascha

3rd

- Kathy Zumbrunn w/ Gymnocalycium schickendantzii

Advanced Division, Succulent: 1st - Jerry & Lesley Slayter w/ Haworthia cooperi

2nd

- Jerry & Lesley Slayter w/ Oxalis carnosa

3rd

- Kathy Zumbrunn w/ Euphorbia trigona

Advanced Division, Blooming: 1st - Kathy Zumbrunn w/ Euphorbia aeruginosa

2nd

- Jerry & Lesley Slayter w/ Crassula sp.

3rd

- Jerry & Lesley Slayter w/ Delosperma sphalmanthoide

Open Division, Cacti: 1st - Bill Poot w/ Mammillaria bocasana 'Red Fred'

2nd

- Brian Poot w/ Myrtillocactus geometrizans ‘elite crest’

3rd

- Bill Poot w/ Mammillaria pseudoperbella

Open Division, Succulent: 1st - Brian Poot w/ Euphorbia abdelkuri

2nd

- Bill Poot w/ Adromischus hallii

3rd

- Roelyn Poot w/ Adromischus marianiae

Open Division, Blooming: 1st - Roelyn Poot w/ Plectranthus sp.

2nd

- Roelyn Poot w/ Pelecyphora valdeziana v. albiflora

3rd

- Brian Poot w/ Neoporteria coimasensis

Allied Interest: 1st - Kathy Zumbrunn w/ Cat Succulent Planter

This mosaic artist’s Los Osos garden is filled with succulents and totem poles: by Tami Reece 02-28-18 Five local gardens will be on display April 29 as part of the annual Morro Bay AAUW Garden Tour. One of the more eclectic and colorful gardens that will be featured is Ann Hodges’ garden in Los Osos. Hodges is not only a wonderful gardener, but she is also an accomplished mosaic artist. Her garden is filled with stepping stones and other unique items. Along her driveway is a dry river rock bed dotted with succulents, potted grasses and rusted found objects. Colorful wood totem poles decorate the brick wall along with clay statues and glass gazing balls. The walk- way that leads to the backyard has a multitude of brightly colored mosiac-covered stepping stones. Designs include dolphins, sailboats, elephants and seahorses. The stones also decorate a ledge along the top of the wall next to the pathway. Also on the wall are occasional groupings of potted succulents masterfully arranged with variances of height, color and trailing plants. Hodges only has a few house plants. To bring the beauty of greenery and flowers to her home without having to take care of indoor plants, she groups staghorn ferns and other plants outside of her windows. All along Hodges’ walkway are hanging succulents, potted succulents and found objects. More vibrant mosaic stepping stones lead visitors into the backyard. Planning pays off in this peaceful Paso Robles garden. What to plant now? March offers wide range of gardening opportunities. Dried branches of climbing rose bushes are along the wood fence to the north. Hodges has planted pink, red, coral, and white geraniums at the base of each rose bush. She uses the rose branches as a trellis for the climbing plants. Along the east wall, interspersed with Hodges’ composting bins and an assortment of colorful potted succulents, are more painted wooden totems decorated with found items. The artist has attached several heart-shaped rocks to one totem with wire. Leaning against a wall a rusted decorative metal door, an artifact from Hodges’ childhood home in Arcadia, is decorated by a lavender plant trained to climb the unique pattern. Hodges is an avid plant collector and is always on the lookout for new succulents to add to her collection. Giant blue echiveria, donkey ears (Kalanchoe gastons-bonnieri), and kalanchoe (Katapifa tarantula) are some of the unique varieties Hodges grows. Hodges uses flowering plants such as yarrow, lupine and agapanthus to accent the succulents. She tries to only use drought-tolerant plants to keep watering and garden upkeep to a minimum. Tami Reece lives in Paso Robles and has been gardening and preserving its bounty for 30 years. Gardening Tips ▪ Be creative in your gardening. The unexpected is what makes a garden fun. ▪ Hide objects among plants for a visitor to find. ▪ Group together plants with the same watering needs. ▪ If your window faces a fence, place objects & plants to view. ▪ Color can come from art or hardscapes as well as plants.

A small angel statue peeks out from the succulents planted beside the front walkway of Ann Hodges’ Los Osos home.

Ann Hodges mixes succulents, mosaic-covered stepping stones and found objects in her garden in Los Osos.

Wooden totem poles stand amid potted succulent plants in Ann Hodges’ garden in Los Osos.

PLANT STUDY: by Elton Roberts Cleistocactus rojoi I do not have very many of the long tall skinny types of cactus as they get just so tall and then most want to lean over and lay on the tops of and across other cactus. Many times they will snake across other plants and have only the last few inches of the stem tip up in the air. So far Cleistocactus rojoi has not done that. It has several stems and two of them start out kind of leaning on other plants but seventy five percent of the plant is standing about straight up. Some years ago a friend was moving to Arizona and could not take all his plants with him. He had seed trays of seedlings of Cleistocactus and other types that get tall and not very large around. He brought me the seed trays and I have a number of different kinds of the plants. Cleistocactus rojoi is so far upright, it is 79 cm tall and the stem is 2.5 cm in diameter. The stem is grass green and has 13 ribs; the areoles are evenly spaced on the ribs. The areoles have very dark brown wooly felt out of which protrude the horn colored spines. If you look at the photo of the side of the flower you can see that there are very small scales on the flower tube. From these scales and other places on the flower tube are very fine hyaline hairs. The outer petals are yellowish and the petals are salmon on the inside. The inner petals are a dark red with some violet over tones. With the flower open the stigma lobes are seen down in side the flower. The reason I have said as much about the stems and flowers is that the NCL says that C. rojoi is C. smaragdiflorus. Again I have to say that these lumpers do not grow the plants and so know nothing about them. I have been growing C. rojoi for about 5 or 6 years now may be longer, I do not really remember, so the plant is mature enough to have bloomed several years now. I say that the authors of the NCL know nothing about the plants!!!!! Lets take a look at the plants. C. smaragdiflorus stems are to 3.5 cm in diameter. C. rojoi stems are 2.5 cm. C. smaragdiflorus has pale felt on areoles- - rojoi has very dark felt that really stands out against the green stem. The flower of C. smaragdiflorus has white bristles on the flower tube where C. rojoi has very fine hyaline hairs. The inner petals are a vivid emerald green on C. smaragdiflorus flowers, do you see any emerald green petals in the photos of C. rojoi? I sure do not! The flower petals of rojoi are salmon and deep red. The style of C. smaragdiflorus extends just past the end of the flower petals where even the stigma lobes are inside the petals of C. rojoi. The flowers on C. rojoi are produced a bit down the stem of the plants where the flowers on C. smaragdiflorus are from near the tip of the stems. With these differences along it is easy for me to see that Cleistocactus rojoi is not a Cleistocactus smaragdiflorus! C. smaragdiflorus comes Argentina and C. rojoi comes from Bolivia. I have the plants in my regular soil mix. Keep the plants above freezing and make sure that they get acidic water.

CONDOLENCES: The club expresses its sincere condolences to one of its members who has been with the club the longest, Barbara Coelho. Barbara lost her husband, Roger on March 7 due to declining health the past few years. Roger will always be fondly remembered as a cordial and light hearted man. He attended club meetings, shows and dinners faithfully over the years with his beloved Barbara. Over the years he enjoyed mechanics and farming. Barbara, we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers as you make your adjustments and as you miss your beloved Roger each day. May many wonderful memories ease your pain. We will miss Roger too. God bless and keep you!

FEBRUARY MEETING 2018 - PHOTO'S BY BRIAN POOT

STOCKTON CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOCIETY

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM

Annual dues (January-December 2018) Single Membership……………………………………………….$20.00 Family Membership……………………………………………....$25.00 Contributing………………………………………………………$35.00 Total Due$____________ Please Print: Name(s)_________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ City_________________________________ State_______Zip_____________ Do you want the newsletter Phone_______________________ E-mail______________________________ E-mailed to you - Check 1 Yes No Birthday (Month Required)__________________________________________ *Please mail this form, along with a check made payable to the Stockton Cactus & Succulent Society to the membership chairperson before the February general meeting to continue receiving the newsletter.

Roelyn Poot

17229 East Hwy 120

Ripon, CA 95366

FEBRUARY MEETING 2018 - PHOTO'S BY BRIAN POOT